Luca Manfe crowned 'MasterChef' winner

Submitted

Thu, Sep 12th 2013 10:00 am

"MasterChef": Luca is crowned winner in the season finale on FOX. (FOX photo by Greg Gayne)

Season five open casting
calls begin in Phoenix and New Orleans on Oct. 5

Wednesday
night, season four of "MasterChef" came to an unforgettable conclusion as host/executive
producer and judge Gordon Ramsay and fellow judges Joe Bastianich and Graham
Elliot named Luca Manfe the winner of FOX's hit home cooking competition
series. Manfe, 31, is a restaurant manager from Astoria. In addition to earning
the "MasterChef" title, Manfe walked away with a cookbook deal and the $250,000
grand prize.

"Winning
'MasterChef' is a dream come true," Manfe said. "After being eliminated in the
auditions round last year, I never would have thought my life could turn around
like this. I have learned so much from the experience, and now I am ready to continue
pursuing my dream of opening my first restaurant."

In the
season finale, Manfe competed in a culinary showdown with Natasha Crnjac, a
stay-at-home mom from San Diego, who proved her skill with her sophisticated
techniques, exotic flavors and competitive spirit. For the final challenge,
Manfe created a refined three-course meal: an appetizer of seared duck liver
with brioche and peaches; a main course of braised beef short ribs with chanterelle
mushrooms; and a basil panna cotta with tomato jam and honey cream mascarpone for
dessert. In the end, it was Manfe's bold flavors and complex, yet composed, techniques
that won over the judges and earned him the "MasterChef" title.

Manfe's
incredible "MasterChef" journey began on season three during the auditions
round. He came up short of advancing to the next round, but the judges
encouraged him to continue cooking and improving his craft. This season, after
earning a "MasterChef" apron on his second try, Manfe came back stronger than
ever, and was determined to prove his drive and passion to become the next "MasterChef"
winner. Each week, Manfe competed in a series of grueling challenges and
intense elimination rounds, presenting restaurant-quality dishes in his
signature Italian style.

Nearing
the end of its fourth season, "MasterChef" ranks as the season's No. 1 cooking
show on television among Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers.

Do
you think you have what it takes to be like Luca? "MasterChef" will once again
travel across the country and give talented home cooks the chance to prove they
have what it takes to make their mark on the culinary world. Open casting
calls will be held in the following cities: